Vanyel isn't really in a mood where reassurances that he's not worse at everything than other people are landing. "Mmm," he says absently. 

"...I'm going to check in with Lancir and see if he's found where your sister is."

"All right." 

Knock knock, Lancir.

:Yes, what is it?: 

Wondering if you located Vanyel's sister?

:Yes, actually. She's at the Deercreek Guard-post, commanding a company. I'm not sure Van has ever been there, unfortunately, but I could find somebody who has, if they can show you their memory of it via the earcuff: 

I can ask him if he thinks she'd take it amiss if I contacted her directly, if you can't, but someone not discomfited by Mindspeech would be ideal, thank you.

:Of course. I'll ask around. Anything else?: 

Not for you, I'll call Aber next.

Aber?

:Bella?: He seems confused for a moment. :...Oh, right, I wanted to hear about whatever this protocol is that you told Melody she could use or something, without actually explaining it to her: 

Uh, basically 'it is okay to use telepathy as a weapon if you are being attacked even if you are a therapist in much the same way it is okay to use scissors as a weapon if you are being attacked even if you are a hairdresser'. I have no ability to look up formal rules about it and have not been home in twenty years but my world is a dangerous and violent place and having rigid protections for patients isn't meant to deprive their caretakers of self-defense.

:I...see: Aber seems to take a deliberate moment to settle himself. :That makes sense. And – I think it was correct, I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't had that option and taken it. Just, I need to make it square with our rules here, somehow, and we don't currently have any clauses that would cover it. I suppose that's an oversight and we'll need to scramble to add one: 

I'm happy to look over a draft if you want me to but I'm not the same thing as a native person with a grab bag of Gifts so you probably want expertise other than mine in there. Probably Healers are normally noncombatants? And there are good reasons to have noncombat roles but it doesn't work well when Healers' is besieged.

:Right, right - I think that makes sense? Er, and I think it makes sense for us to hammer out something over here, and maybe have you advise on it at some point, if there end up being points I feel unsure of. Thank you. I'm sorry I was snappish about it: The overtones shout loud and clearly that Aber does not want this to be the problem he has to deal with right now, but is making the best of it. 

Is there anything else before I get breakfast?

:I don't think so–: Pause. :Er, thank you. For getting our people out of there safely. And sending them back. I know people are, um, kind of upset with you over this, but – I want you to know that I'm grateful: 

Thank you, I appreciate that.

:I think that's all: 

"Lancir says your sister is at Deercreek," Bella reports, "and that you've never been but he can look for someone who has; if there's an unexpected emergency I can use the cuff to look through her eyes and just drop you directly in front of her and hope that isn't too awkward."

"But you haven't– right, not Mindspeech, you don't need to have met her. Um, sure, that would be a bit awkward but I think it'd be fine once I explained." 

"I'd just talk to her now but she might be spooked. Okay, so that's your emergency destination sorted and now I think it's time for breakfast."

Breakfast sounds good to Vanyel. 

Bella heads out to scare some up.

Nayoki is standing outside the library talking to Leareth. She turns first. "Bella. I - sorry I mad, yesterday."